Botswana Safari

10 Days , LIVINGSTONE to LIVINGSTONE

What's Included

All National Park and game reserve entrances.

Chobe River homestay.

Open vehicle game drives in Savuti area, Chobe National Park, Khwai River and Moremi

area.
Okavango Delta 2-night houseboat excursion with game viewing and bird watching by
boat.

Overseas Medical Insurance for the duration of the tour (Sum of US$ 2,50,000 covered)
3 nights accommodation at the hotels mentioned or similar
1 night accommodation in a homestay.
3 nights accommodation in Comfort tented camps.
2 nights accommodation in a houseboat
Meals Included: 9 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 6 dinners.
Arrival Airport Transfers on day 1 of the tour on shared basis
All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.
Chief Experience Officer (CEO) throughout, local guides.

VERY IMPORTANT: Please ensure that you print a final copy of your Trip Details to
review a couple of days prior to travel, in case there have been changes that affect
your plans.

Itinerary
DAY 1 Livingstone
Arrive at any time. Arrival transfer included. Meet our CEO at the hotel (on
Day 1 at approx. 6:00PM - please have a look at the information board in the
hotel), he/she will go through your trip details.
David Livingstone was born on March 19, 1813 in the village of Blantyre,
South Lanarkshire, Scotland. He first studied Greek, medicine, and theology at
the University of Glasgow and while working in London, joined the London
Missionary Society became a minister. He originally planned to gain access to
China through his medical knowledge. The Opium Wars, which were raging at
this stage with no signs of peace on the horizon, forced Livingstone to consider
other options. From 1840 he worked in Bechuanaland (present-day Botswana),

and in the period 1852-56, he explored the African interior, and was the first
European to see the Mosi-oa-Tunya waterfall, which he renamed Victoria Falls
after his monarch, Queen Victoria.
The Victoria Falls waterfalls occur in a country that is perfectly flat. From its
source on the borders of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Zambezi River
meanders for 1300 km across the wooded plateau of Zambia, eroding for itself
a shallow valley on its mild descent to the site of the falls. The river eventually
found a weak spot on the lower lip of the surface over which it passed, and
forced a passage which was steadily deepened into an exit gorge. During the
last half million years the river has scoured out eight of these cracks across its
bed. The Victoria falls occur where the river is 1688m wide, presents the
spectacle of an average maximum of 550 million liters of water a minute
tumbling over the lip of the trench in five main falls, the Devil's Cataract, Main
falls, Horseshoe Falls, Rainbow falls and the Eastern Cataract. The highest of
these is Rainbow falls, on an average 108 m high. A peak flood sees 750 million
liters of water in one minute hurtling over the falls.
The name Zambezi comes from the Tonka tribe, also meaning Great River, but
the Sotho-speaking Kololo people of the upper reaches of the river gave it the
well-known name of Mosi o a Thunya (smoke that rises). The Lozi people call it
by the same name but translated it into smoke that sounds. The Ndebele call it
aManza Thunqayo (the water that rises like smoke). The Namibian people call
it Chinotimba (a noise-making place like the distant sound of digging).
There are numerous optional activities available in Livingstone and the
surrounding area. We highly recommend booking pre or post nights to take full
advantage of this area. We also have a convenient G desk, that can help you
book optional activities and better explore the city and area.

DAY 2 Kasane/Chobe River

Cross the border into Botswana and transfer to a private home on the Chobe
River for a unique homestay experience.
We have a leisurely start this morning and say fond farewells to our
resourceful G Adventure Livingstone Staff. With our CEO, we head westwards
for the short drive to Kazungula Border Post, where your CEO will ensure that
your transfer to Kasane, on the banks of the Chobe River, is seamless. You will
arrive in time for lunch at this beautiful located private home next to the river
where we will stay tonight and enjoy the hospitality of the home owner. You
shouldn't miss out on the optional photography sunset boat tour this afternoon.
Tonight you stay at a private homestead right on the bank of the Chobe river in
a on-suite room, very typical traditional victorian style house with big veranda,
peacefull atmosphere and an opportunity to spot wildlife right from the porch.
At night enjoy a traditional braai (bbq) around the fire listening to the sound of

frogs, hippos and hyena in the back ground.

Approximate Distance: 110 km
Estimate Travel Time: 2 Hours
Opt to take a sunset photography river cruise for wildlife viewing with an
expert photography/wildlife guide.
If you opt to do the photo-safari, the experts will show you how the cameras
work and advise you on how to frame the subject to capture a truly great
image. We set ups the camera for you, to suit the conditions and even
beginners will have no problem. The fact that the Chobe is such a game rich
environment and that the Nikon D7000 is such a fantastic and user-friendly
camera means that in no time you will be taking some images that truly do
justice to your safari in the Chobe. Highlights along the river include elephants,
hippos, crocodile and ample birdlife. This tour includes: transfers, park fees,
drinks, camera usage (Nikon D7000 With 150 - 500 mm Zoom lens), photo
permit, exclusive photo seat on Photo boat.
This is a world famous wildlife photography area, a "jewel" according to
National Geographic, and a backdrop for lots of African wildlife documentaries.
This is a amazing opportunity to take great pictures with a very good camera
and zoom lens - the memory card in the camera is yours to keep!

DAY 3 Chobe National Park

Travel deeper into the Chobe wilderness to Ghoha Hills, with spectacular views
of the surrounding bush. Enjoy late afternoon and evening game viewing in
open vehicles around the hills and waterholes in search of elephants, lions,
hippos and giraffes, to name a few.After an early start, we take a slow
gamedrive along the southern bank of the Chobe River, where we can find
Chobe Bushbuck and Puku Antelope, which are found only in this part of
Botswana. Chobe River is home the world's largest elephant herds; and buffalo,
hippo and lion can be seen here. Our private morning game-viewing takes
place along routes that that overlook this beautiful river and the remarkable
variety of animals that are drawn to this permanent water source.
Early afternoon we head south towards the Ghoga Hills and the Savuti Area.
Game viewing in the late afternoon takes place along the hills and surrounding
water holes. The lodge/camp is situated high up on the Ghoha Hills, with
spectacular views of the surrounding bush. The views are unique and awe
inspiring, particularly due to the fact that Botswana is such a flat country. The
main area in the lodge has a thatched roof with bar and lounge, which helps
the lodge blend into the surrounding hillside. Accommodation is in luxury tents
with comfortable amenities and en-suite.
Approximate Distance: 180 km

Estimate Travel Time: 6 Hours

DAY 4 Khwai River/Moremi Area

Drive to the Khwai River area bordering Moremi Game Reserve via Savuti.
With astounding wildlife, this area has been rated one of the best for game
viewing in the world. Embark on morning and afternoon open vehicle game
drives with time to relax at the comfortable tented camp.
We take a leisurely drive to our camp in the Khwai River area via Savuti, an
area best known for large populations of Bull Elephants and Prides of Lion that
patrol the banks of this enigmatic channel. After a picnic lunch, we head
towards our next nightstop, bordering Moremi Game Reserve. Due to the fact
that none of Botswana's wildlife areas are fenced, game can move freely
between wilderness areas. This region's diversity of game is astounding and
Moremi has quite rightly been rated as one of the best Game viewing areas in
the world.
The camp lodge boasts a majestic thatch roofed dining and lounge area leading
to an elevated viewing deck over the riverbank. Spectacular sunsets can be
admired over sundowners from the quaint bar or from the deck of your comfort
en-suite tent.
Approximate Distance: 130 km
Estimate Travel Time: 4 Hours

DAY 5 Khwai River/Moremi Area

This day is spent on early morning and afternoon game drives. Over the course
of the day, guests are given the best chances of seeing a variety of wildlife although there is of course, that obligatory siesta during the hottest part of the
day.

DAY 6 Maun
After a morning game drive, transfer to the frontier town of Maun.
Today we take quick and early gamedrive, drive out of the Moremi Area and
journey south into the frontier town of Maun, to our accommodation which has
a pleasant eating area with a welcome swimming pool.
Maun is the gateway to the Okavango Delta and has for a long time enjoying
the reputation of being Botswana's own frontier town. Today it is one of the
fastest growing towns in Africa. It was originally established in 1915 by the
Batawana, a splinter group of the Bangwato. The name Maun means "place of
reeds".

Maun, although officially still a village, is the fifth largest town in Botswana. It
is an eclectic mix of modern buildings and native huts. Maun is the "tourism
capital" of Botswana and the administrative centre of Ngamiland district.
Maun has developed rapidly from a rural frontier town and has spread along
the Thamalakane River. It now boasts good shopping centres, hotels and
lodges as well as car and 4-wheel drive vehicle hire. It still retains a rural
atmosphere and local tribesmen continue to bring their cattle to Maun to sell.
This community is now distributed along the wide banks of the Thamalakane
River where red lechwe can still be seen grazing next to local donkeys, goats
and cattle.
Approximate Distance: 120 km
Estimate Travel Time: 3 Hours
Option to shop and take a scenic flight over the delta. The afternoon is at
leisure at the Hotel, which is situated on the banks of the Thamalakane River.

DAY 7 Okavango Delta

Transfer to the houseboat, our home for the next 2 nights in the Okavango
Delta, the world's largest inland delta. Travelling by houseboat allows us to
explore a more secluded area of the delta, taking small boats into the channels
and waterways for wildlife viewing and bird watching.
Today we board our Houseboat, based on the serene waters of the Okavango
River. We begin our journey into the "Panhandle" area of the Okavango Delta,
in Northern Botswana. This area is recognized as one of the most peaceful
areas in the Delta, due to its remoteness. Indeed, there are only a handful of
permanent camps and boats operating in this wilderness area - which makes it
ideal for our guests. Excursions from the houseboat are done on "tender boats"
which allow us to get into smaller channels. The activities available can include
fishing, bird-watching, boat safaris and an optional visit to Tsodilo Hills.
Tsodilo Hills is a World Heritage Site with the richest concentration of San
Rock Paintings in the world. Having been inhabited for about 30,000 years,
they're one of the world's oldest, historical sites and are to more than 4,000
San Bushman paintings. Several walking trails provide helpful routes around
the painting sites.
"Where all this water goes is a mystery", Aurel Schultz, 1897
The area of the delta was once part of Lake Makgadikgadi, an ancient lake that
dried up some 10,000 years ago. Today, the Okavango River has no outlet to
the sea. Instead, it empties onto the sands of the Kalahari Desert, irrigating
15,000 square km of the desert. Each year some 11 cubic kilometers of water
reach the delta. Some of this water reaches further south to create Lake
Ngami. The water entering the delta is unusually pure, due to the lack of
agriculture and industry along the Okavango River. It passes through the sand
aquifers of the numerous delta islands and evaporates/transpirates by leaving

enormous quantities of salt behind. This precipitation processes are so strong

that the vegetation disappears in the center of the islands and thick salt crusts
are formed. The waters of the Okavango Delta are subject to seasonal flooding,
which begins about mid-summer in the north and six months later in the south
(May/June). The water from the delta is evaporated relatively rapidly by the
high temperatures, resulting in a cycle of cresting and dropping water in the
south. Islands can disappear completely during the peak flood, then reappear
at the end of the season.
Approximate Distance: 380 km
Estimate Travel Time: 5 Hours
Opt to go fishing or on a cultural excursion to Tsoldilo Hills to view ancient San
Bushman rock paintings, or relax on deck with a cool drink watching the
passing scenery.

DAY 8 Okavango Delta

The day is at leisure.

DAY 9 Livingstone
Transfer by van and ferry crossing back into Zambia.
Approximate Distance: 550 km
Estimate Travel Time: 8-9 Hours
Option to visit Victoria Falls.

DAY 10 Livingstone
Depart at any time.